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Dual Enrollment and financial aid/expenses


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DD is starting dual enrollment classes this fall at a local community college.  The tuition is waived but we'll need to cover books, fees and incidentals. Can we claim these under The Lifetime Learning Credit?

 

Also, does anyone know if high school students are allowed to get a campus job through the Federal Work Study program?  

 

Thanks!

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Lifetime Learning Credit covers only expenses paid to the school.  So probably just your fees.  Those of us who pay tuition and fees to the school can claim those.  Books aren't included in the Lifetime Learning Credit in most cases.  You should receive a statement from the school the gives you what qualifies in 2014.  IRS Pub 970 gives more details.

 

I don't believe that high school students qualify for Federal Work Study, but I'm not 100% sure on that.  At the college where I teach, it is a pretty restrictive program with a lot of requirements.

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Thanks for the IRS publication number, G5052!  Books are covered under the Lifetime Learning Credit, but not the American Opportunity Credit!

 

American Opportunity Credit

Qualified Education Credit: For purposes of the American opportunity credit, qualified education expenses are tuition and certain related expenses required for enrollment or attendance at an eligible educational institution. Student activity fees are included in qualified education expenses only if the fees must be paid to the institution as a condition fo enrollment or attendance.

 

 

Lifetime Learning

Related expenses: Student activity fees and expenses for course-related books, supplies and equipment are included in qualified education expenses only if the fees and expenses must be paid to the institution for enrollment or attendance. (But you can't claim a credit on the same expenses you pay with a Coverdell education savings account or qualified tuition program.)

 

http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-prior/p970--2013.pdf

 

 

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Thanks for the IRS publication number, G5052!  Books are covered under the Lifetime Learning Credit, but not the American Opportunity Credit!

 

American Opportunity Credit

Qualified Education Credit: For purposes of the American opportunity credit, qualified education expenses are tuition and certain related expenses required for enrollment or attendance at an eligible educational institution. Student activity fees are included in qualified education expenses only if the fees must be paid to the institution as a condition fo enrollment or attendance.

 

 

Lifetime Learning

Related expenses: Student activity fees and expenses for course-related books, supplies and equipment are included in qualified education expenses only if the fees and expenses must be paid to the institution for enrollment or attendance. (But you can't claim a credit on the same expenses you pay with a Coverdell education savings account or qualified tuition program.)

 

http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-prior/p970--2013.pdf

 

Unfortunately they only cover books if they are included in what you pay the college or if you buy them directly from the college.  The vast majority of college bookstores are run independently by contract now, so when you buy books on campus, you are not buying them from the college technically.  When you get your 1098-T from the college, it will only include books if they were actually bought from the college itself, not the contractor running the bookstore.

 

When I take classes for professional development (I'm a college professor), my 1098-T's have never included books.

 

When they do became regular college students, you can claim books under the American Opportunity Credit.

 

Just depends on how things are run...

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